Thea Walsh blocked three penalty shots early in the contest as part of her 14 saves as the Breakers survived the fierce winds last Wednesday, Dec. 6, to defeat Dos Pueblos 7-5 in a Laguna home contest played at the regulation size Santa Margarita pool. The Chargers were in Orange County for a tournament at Villa Park and were available for the non-league contest pitting the top two teams in Southern California.
Laguna scored first at 2:46 in the first period on a shot by Sophia Lucas off a pass by Isabel Riches. Two possessions later, the Charger’s Abbi Hill scored on a sweep to tie the contest that remained deadlocked until Lucas made it 2-1 on a power play goal from a pass by Alana Evans. The officials awarded Dos Pueblos their next goal after it appeared to be shot well after the shot clock buzzer. DP was given another buzzer shot on their next possession to take their only lead at 3-2.
Laguna added two goals in the final 1:05 of the first half with a strong outside goal by Rachael Carver and a score by Evan Tingler.
The teams traded goals in the third period with Lucas adding the insurance score on her third tally of the contest in the final period.
Breakers are back at Santa Margarita Saturday, Dec. 16, for a 11 a.m. match with seventh-ranked Orange Lutheran.
